Teachers' views on the fifth grade intensive English curriculum

The aim of this study is to examine the Foreign Language Intensive Fifth Grade English Curriculum based on the views of teachers working in lower secondary schools in Muğla province where this program is implemented for four years. The examination was carried out through the views of teachers on the strengths of the program, the problems encountered during the implementation process, textbook problems, school opportunities, the development of basic language skills, the contribution of the program to student achievement and its sustainability. Case study design, one of the qualitative research methods, was employed in the study. Criterion sampling, one of the purposive sampling methods, was used to determine the study group. The data of the study were collected through interviews done by the researcher A semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher was used during the interviews. The data obtained were analyzed through content analysis. Categories and themes were reached from the codes. The study revealed that; student-oriented practices improve student characteristics such as breaking prejudices, development self-confidence about language learning, different teaching practices are included in the learning-teaching process, there are some problems in student selection, students' prejudices about learning English negatively affect the process, the program content is very intense, both the textbook and the digital textbook have some problematic aspects, the four basic skills could not be developed in a balanced way although the program has some positive contributions to language learning, writing skills are weaker compared to the other skills, and there are problems in the evaluation of speaking and especially listening skills. Also, the selection of students for classes according to certain criteria, the development of a common understanding in the implementation of the program, the revision of the learning outcomes and theme density, and the development of a textbook suitable for the program are among the basic recommendations put forward by the teachers to sustain the program more effectively. Keywords: foreign language education, intensive language education in English, basic language skills